Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shannia Castellanos. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Shannia, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I am very happy as an artist and stay at home mom. It’s the best thing that has ever happened to me; to be able to add extra income for our family, while still be able to be present with my children. I have had regular jobs, and I completed a bachelor’s degree in teaching because I thought that was the direction I was going to take. After finishing my degree, I suddenly felt a pull in the direction of my greater passion for creating art. It was not easy to start, and it can be financially risky at moments, but I have always found that the joy and excitement I receive while creating remind me that the reward is greater. The unease and fear I feel at times while taking care of the business side of art should be there, or else I would not be growing or taking necessary actions that will move me forward. The happiness and the fear are what fuel my motivation to press on- I never felt this in my regular jobs. I never felt personally connected to my work like I do as an artist. Ideas spin through my mind every single day about what to create next. If I were not doing art, these ideas would circulate with no place to go. This is why I HAVE to create. It is my outlet and a place of refuge.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am Shannia K Castellanos, a 28 year old contemporary mixed media artist. I set out to follow my calling in art only three years ago when I became a new mom. I wanted to work and accomplish my own personal goals and still be able to raise my baby from home. Today, I am a mother of two and I balance time in my home studio outside of Atlanta, Georgia. I have created a very unique art form that has brought myself and my collectors so much joy! I use real flowers and preserve them within serene landscape paintings. Imagine a beautiful mountain or seascape with real flowers coming up from the foreground. I begin on any size blank canvas and compose a landscape painting with acrylic paint. I then arrange beautiful bundles of vibrant flowers atop the canvas. I finalize the art by preserving it all within a glossy resin finish. The result is a stunning piece of art that transforms any living space with organic beauty from nature. I get to bring nature indoors and bring comfortable conversation into homes. My paintings are full of life, depth, and warmth. I currently have one collection available on my website (www.shanniakartwork.com) and will be working on another collection in the spring. My work is also sold in store in Georgia. If you’d like more information you can also find that on my website. I am always so happy to talk with collectors to answer any questions, and I also work one-on-one with clients on custom commissions.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Pivoting if what being a creative is all about! You cannot create and stay stuck because creating is a verb. You have to do something in order to move forward and grow as an artist. For example, recently I began to feel myself get into a bit of a slump in my creative mood. I was playing with watercolor, and I had sold over 20 paintings using a technique that I thought I liked. That day as I was waving my brush over the paper, I lifted my brush and thought, “Why do I feel like this is the only technique I can use to paint?” I had done so many other paintings the same way with successful results, so I thought I had to keep doing the same thing. I suddenly felt restricted and stuck. The truth of the matter was that I was not stuck or restricted to this one method of painting. I put my brush back onto the paper and allowed myself to re-explore with the colors, the water, the paint, and the technique. The result was a beautiful fresh piece of art that brought this style to a whole other level. Because I chose to pivot, I upgraded my work and value. The changes were small, as was the pivot, but the results were wonderful.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The goal that drives my creative journey is to be able to bring a spark of light into homes around the globe. Today’s society is very busy and often encourages people to live outside of their homes. When families are home, the immense amount of stress and pressure of every day life can bring a lot of confrontation or unease. I want my collectors and clients to see my art in their home and it bring them to a place within themselves where they feel peace, gratefulness, and contentment. This is what nature does for me. It tells me to slow down. I want people to observe my art and slow down to take in the raw beauty of nature, and to feel true peace.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shanniakartwork.com
• Instagram: @shanniakartwork
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/shanniakartwork
• Linkedin: @shanniakartwork
• Other: Pinterest and TikTok: @shanniakartwork

Image Credits
Shannia Castellanos